When Aaron stepped out of the carriage, Eleanor naturally wanted to go with him. She was barefoot, her little deerskin ankle boots left by the door, and wore a simple, milky-white neoclassical summer dress in floral-patterned wool.
Lady Silverstar had given Eleanor quite a few beautiful, luxurious outfits. Miss Cleric had initially refused outright. She disliked taking things from others and had little interest in material possessions. Of the enormous haul from their adventure, Eleanor had donated two thousand Golden Lions straight to the Church of the Silver Mother, keeping only a little spending money in reserve.
Of course, Selûne had not let Miss Cleric's donation go unrewarded. Whether she was extending her fondness for Aaron to Eleanor or rewarding Eleanor's devotion, the Lady of Silver had blessed her warhammer, the Hand of the Moon. It was now a rare-grade holy weapon.
But Lady Silverstar had then whispered something to Eleanor. Miss Cleric's face had instantly turned crimson. After stealing glances at Aaron for several seconds, she had decisively accepted Lady Silverstar's gifts.
"You don't need to come, Eleanor." Aaron gripped the sword hilt at his waist, looking eager to try his hand. "We still need someone here. Give us a few blessings."
"All right." Miss Cleric seemed much more compliant now. With a flick of her little hand, the thick, weighty Book of the Moon hanging at her waist opened, and a series of divine spells settled over Aaron and Samir.
"Bless."
"Devotion Shield."
"Enhance Ability: Bear's Endurance!"
The three holy blessings settled over both Aaron and Samir. Eleanor nodded to them.
"Please follow me," the Dragonspike caravan leader said respectfully to Aaron and Samir.
The Dragonspike family had always thought highly of itself. Had Aaron and Samir been warriors, they would never have received this treatment.
But they